Player Updates

Johnson submitted two points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two rebounds and one steal across 16 minutes in a 116-102 win over the Celtics on Monday.

After being dropped from the rotation Feb. 24 against the Spurs, Johnson has steadily regained playing time while appearing in each of the last five games. He's now seen double-digit minutes in two straight games, though that's probably the ceiling for Johnson while the Clippers remain at full strength on the wing. Johnson is averaging a career-low 3.1 points in 12.6 minutes per game for the season.

Johnson posted 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-5 3Pt), four rebounds, four steals and one block across 19 minutes during a 99-84 win over the Hawks on Wednesday.

Johnson's 19 minutes were his most in the last nine games, which speaks to the small role he's held throughout the season despite opening the 2016-17 campaign as a candidate to start at small forward. His solid outing Wednesday may earn him a longer look from coach Doc Rivers after the All-Star break, but Johnson may regularly need to receive 20-to-25 minutes per game before he approaches relevance even in most deeper leagues.

Johnson returned from his personal leave to play 11 scoreless minutes in Thursday night's loss to the Timberwolves.

Johnson was absent from Monday's game against the Thunder to attend to the birth of his child. In rejoining his teammates Thursday, Johnson missed his lone shot attempt, gathered two steals and had one rebound. With the injury-hit Clippers short on bodies, Johnson could see his playing time elevated beyond the usual 13.5 minutes per night, but it's hard to take too much stock in someone averaging 3.1 points and 3.3 rebounds right now.

Johnson is away from the team following the birth of his child and won't play in Monday's game against the Thunder, Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com reports.

It seems unlikely that Johnson will miss multiple games, so there's a good chance he's back with the Clippers prior to Thursday's matchup against the Timberwolves. That said, Johnson has held just a minor role off the bench for the Clippers, so his absence shouldn't drastically change the team's regular allotment of minutes.

Johnson (ankle) is available to play Monday against the Suns, Lucas Hann of SB Nation reports.

Johnson entered Monday listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain but will ultimately be available off the bench against Phoenix. However, the 29-year-old averaged just 13.7 minutes of playing time during 16 appearances in December.